Automatic Transmission Torque Converter problems of the 2011 Ford Escape

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated when the vehicle was parked the key was inserted into the ignition approximately five times before the vehicle started. Additionally, the contact stated on three occasions while driving at various speeds the steering wheel became stiff. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted. The vehicle was taken to a independent dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition cylinder switch and torque sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000. .

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift gear, and failed to engage when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown Ford dealer to have a diagnostic performed however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The technician also test drove the vehicle and was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was also taken to an independent mechanic for inspection. The contact was informed that the transmission torque converter failed and the transmission needed to be rebuilt or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.

Purchased used in Jan 2013, immediately had trouble shifting and wouldn't go in reverse. Rpms revved up like it couldn't shift to the next gear. Brought it back to the dealer, no codes but a TSB 12-6-12 and 11-9-9 covered both and the pcm was reprogrammed. It still shifted hard but I got used to it. It started getting really bad again in may 2013. No codes, no check engine light and I checked the system information and nothing was flagged. It would chug and then die while idling. At a stoplight on a 55 mph highway, it stalled. Engine started up but as soon as it was put into drive it would make a loud grinding noise and stall. I didn't have any warning. I was at a stoplight at a very busy intersection and there was no where safe to push the truck to the side. I waited 30 terrified minutes for the tow truck hoping no one would slam into me. Towed it to the closest dealer where they had to write to the hotline to check since it was only 2 years old. First told it was a valve body or torque converter failure. Metal was found in the valve body and solinoid screens and the whole transmission needed to be replaced. And because it had 71,000 miles it wasn't covered under warranty.

At approx. 19,800 miles was driving along the interstate and the Escape started losing power. I went from running 75 mph to 40 mph. The Escape now has approx. 33,000 miles and is a total nightmare. As of April 28, 2013 it has been in the shop for a total of 46 days and has had 8 repair attempts. No warning lights nor the check engine light has ever come on. This Escape clunks, surges, loses power, cut's off and at times will not even crank. The transmissions has been reprogrammed, the throttle body and motor asy - throttle body air intake has been replaced, the vapor management valve has been replaced, the torque convertor has been replaced. Lost in arbitration with the bbb because Ford said in their last repair attempt that the vehicle has operating as normal. June 5, 2013 car was back in shop because at 7:45 am stopped at a red light, while my foot was on the brake the rpm's surged up to 4000, could hardly keep it from running the light, once the light changed took off and within 4 tenths of a mile lost power and shut off. It took me 8 minutes to get it to crank, drove about 15 miles, surging all the way, and the car died again, taking me 10 minutes to get it to crank. Took the car back to the shop, they kept it for 7 days, returned it and said they could not duplicate problem. June 20, 2013 tried to crank the car at 10:00 am, it would crank, but go dead, finally at 11:10 am it stayed cranked, drove at 3 tenths of a mile, car goes dead. Takes me 5 minutes to re-crank went straight to the shop. This car is dangerous and Ford needs to re-call.